Neck contoured protective wrap

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided, including a first sheet, a second sheet attached to the first sheet, a first attachment device fixed to a first portion of the first sheet, and a second attachment device fixed to a second portion of the first sheet. The first sheet may have a substantially semicircular cutout. The second sheet may be comprised of a substantially waterproof material. The first attachment device and the second attachment device may be fixed to the first sheet so that the first attachment device can be attached to the second attachment device to connect the first and second portions of the first sheet, so that the first sheet is wrapped around an upper torso area of an individual. An individual can have hair on their head washed or cut while the apparatus is wrapped around the upper torso of the individual.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning protective coverings used for hair washing and coloring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various protective coverings known in the art for protecting an individual during hair washing and/or coloring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a first sheet, a second sheet attached to the first sheet, a first attachment device fixed to a first portion of the first sheet, and a second attachment device fixed to a second portion of the first sheet. The first sheet may have a substantially semicircular cutout. The second sheet may be comprised of a substantially waterproof material. The first attachment device and the second attachment device may be fixed to the first sheet so that the first attachment device can be attached to the second attachment device to connect the first and second portions of the first sheet, so that the first sheet is wrapped around an upper torso area of an individual.

The first and/or second attachment devices may be attached to the first sheet through the second sheet. The first sheet may be comprised of a periphery and an interior. There may be a first slit in the first sheet which extends from the periphery of the first sheet towards the interior of the first sheet. There may be a second slit in the first sheet which extends from the periphery of the first sheet towards the interior of the first sheet. The first and second slits may be located at different locations. The first and/or second slits may extend from the substantially semicircular cutout to the interior of the first sheet.

The second sheet may be substantially aligned with and may cover substantially the same area as the first sheet. Alternatively, the second sheet may cover about half of the area of the first sheet, and may be substantially aligned with a portion of the first sheet.

At least one embodiment of the present invention includes a method. The method may include wrapping an apparatus around an upper torso of a person. The apparatus may be as previously described. The method may include attaching a first attachment device to a second attachment device and thereby connecting first and second portions of a first sheet, so that the first sheet is wrapped around an upper torso area of an individual. The method may further include thereafter washing or coloring hair on a head of the individual with the first sheet wrapped around the upper torso of the individual. The method may further include tucking the substantially semicircular cutout over a collar to prevent the collar from getting wet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5A shows a simplified perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 wrapped a neck of an individual, with a flap or cutout portion not tucked inside a collar; and

FIG. 5B shows a simplified perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 wrapped a neck of an individual, with a flap or cutout portion tucked inside a collar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of an apparatus 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1. The apparatus 1 includes a device or portion 2 which may include a first sheet 4 shown in FIG. 1 and a second sheet 16 shown in FIG. 2. The first sheet 4 may lay on top of the second sheet 16 and may be sewn or laminated to the second sheet 16, or vice versa. The first sheet 4 may be a towel, such as a towel made cotton or a colorfast treated terry cloth material. The first sheet 4 may be a colorfast absorbent material. The second sheet 16 may be a water proof covering such as a coated nylon. The second sheet 16 may be a backing and the first sheet 4 may be mounted, such as for example by being sewn, onto the backing or second sheet 16 or the first sheet 4 and the second sheet 16 may be laminated together.

The apparatus 1 may include sides 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 5A and 5B, and portions 21 a and 21 b shown in FIG. 2.

The device or portion 2 may have elongated slots or slits 6 and 8 which run through both the first sheet 4 and the second sheet 16, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. The device or portion 2 may also have a semicircular cutout portion 10 which runs through the first sheet 4 and the second sheet 16. The apparatus 1 may also include a flap 20 which is formed by the slots 6 and 8. The first sheet 4, as shown in FIG. 1, may have attachment devices 12 and 14 sewn or otherwise connected to the first sheet 4. The attachment devices 12 and 14 may have protrusions 12 a and 14 a, respectively. The second sheet 16, as shown in FIG. 2, may have an attachment device 18 including an indentation 18 a.

One of the protrusions 12 a and 14 a of the attachment devices 12 and 14, respectively, can be inserted into the indentation 18 a of the attachment device 18, in order to attach the appropriate one of the attachment devices 12 and 14 to the attachment device 18. The attachment devices 18 and 12 or 18 and 14 may thereby snap together or may be comprised of Velcro (trademarked) and may have hooks and/or loops which connects together.

In operation, the attachment devices 18 and 12 or 18 and 14 are connected together in order to keep the apparatus 1 held around an individual's neck securely. The protective flap 20 can be tucked into a collar of an individual. With the apparatus 1 thus placed, the apparatus 1 protects the neck and clothing the individual during hair washing or color applications. The apparatus 1 may be used in hair salons, hospitals, and/or nursing homes.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus 1 is made to wrap around an individual's shoulders and to fasten securely around the individual's neck. The protective flap 20, shown in FIG. 1, gets tucked into the individual's shirt collar to keep the flap 20 from getting wet and/or to keep hair color from getting on the individual's shirt.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of an apparatus 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the apparatus 100 of FIG. 3. The apparatus 100 may be similar to the apparatus 1, except as will be described. The apparatus 100 includes a device or portion 102 which may include a first sheet 104 shown in FIG. 1 and a second sheet 116 shown in FIG. 2. The second sheet 116 may encompass only about half of the first sheet 104. The second sheet 116 may be waterproof. The first sheet 104 may have a surface 104 a shown in FIG. 3 and a surface 104 b shown in FIG. 4. The surfaces 104 a and 104 b may be the same type of surface, such as a terry cloth surface or other cloth surface.

A portion of the first sheet 104 may lay on top of the second sheet 116 and may be sewn or laminated to the second sheet 116, or vice versa. The first sheet 104 may be a towel, such as a towel made cotton or a colorfast treated terry cloth material. The first sheet 104 may be a colorfast absorbent material. The second sheet 116 may be a water proof covering such as a coated nylon. The second sheet 116 may be a backing and the first sheet 104 may be mounted, such as for example by being sewn, onto the backing or second sheet 116 or the first sheet 104 and the second sheet 116 may be laminated together.

Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-2, the device or portion 102 may have elongated slots 106 and 108 which run through both the first sheet 104 and the second sheet 116, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. The device or portion 102 may also have a semicircular cutout portion 110 which runs through the first sheet 104 and the second sheet 116. The apparatus 100 may also include a flap 120 which is formed by the slots 106 and 108. The first sheet 104, as shown in FIG. 3, may have attachment devices 112 and 114 sewn or otherwise connected to the first sheet 104. The attachment devices 112 and 114 may have protrusions 112 a and 114 a, respectively. The second sheet 116, as shown in FIG. 4, may have an attachment device 118 including an indentation 118 a.

One of the protrusions 112 a and 114 a of the attachment devices 112 and 114, respectively, can be inserted into the indentation 118 a of the attachment device 118, in order to attach the appropriate one of the attachment devices 112 and 114 to the attachment device 118. The attachment devices 118 and 112 or 118 and 114 may thereby snap together or may be comprised of Velcro (trademarked) and may have hooks and/or loops which connects together.

In operation, the attachment devices 118 and 112 or 118 and 114 are connected together in order to keep the apparatus 100 held around an individual's neck securely. The protective flap 120 can be tucked into a collar of an individual. With the apparatus 100 thus placed, the apparatus 100 protects the neck and clothing the individual during hair washing or color applications. The apparatus 100 may be used in hair salons, hospitals, and/or nursing homes.

FIG. 5A shows a simplified perspective view of the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 wrapped around a neck 200 of an individual, with the flap or cutout portion 20 not tucked inside a collar 204. The view of FIG. 5A is looking down on the top 202 of the individual's head. The neck 200 is shown by a dashed lined circle. The collar 204 may be located at or may be identified as half of the circle for the neck 200. FIG. 5A shows sides 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c of the apparatus 1. In FIG. 5A, a portion 21 b of the apparatus 1 is placed over a portion 21 a of the apparatus 1. The attachment devices 14 and 18 are connected together, such as snapped together, as shown by the circle in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The snapped together attachment device 14 and 18 are actually located underneath the sheet 16 but a circle is shown in FIG. 5A to identify the general location of attachment devices 14 and 18. The side 20 b (typically waterproof in at least one embodiment) of the cutout portion 20 can be seen in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5B shows a simplified perspective view of the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 wrapped around the neck 200 of an individual, with the flap or cutout portion 20 tucked inside a collar 204. The side 20 a of the cutout portion 20 is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5B to indicate that the cutout portion is now tucked inside the collar 204 and cannot be seen in the view of FIG. 5B.

With the apparatus 1 in the configuration of FIG. 5B, the collar 204 of a shirt of the individual protects the shirt from getting wet from hair washing or hair coloring. In addition, there is a dashed line L1 in FIGS. 5A and 5B which shows approximately where an individual's shoulders would be. The side 1 a of the apparatus 1 lies around the individual's back and the sides 1 b and 1 c, lie across the individual's front in the configuration of FIGS. 5A and 5B. The apparatus 1 lies over the line L1 and thus over the individual's shoulders.

Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art. 

1. An apparatus comprising: a first sheet; a second sheet attached to the first sheet; a first attachment device fixed to a first portion of the first sheet; a second attachment device fixed to a second portion of the first sheet; wherein the first sheet has a substantially semicircular cutout; wherein the second sheet is comprised of a substantially waterproof material; and wherein the first attachment device and the second attachment device are fixed to the first sheet so that the first attachment device can be attached to the second attachment device to connect the first and second portions of the first sheet, so that the first sheet is wrapped around an upper torso area of an individual.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second attachment device is attached to the first sheet through the second sheet.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first sheet is comprised of a periphery and an interior; and wherein there is a first slit in the first sheet which extends from the periphery of the first sheet towards the interior of the first sheet.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein there is a second slit in the first sheet which extends from the periphery of the first sheet towards the interior of the first sheet; the first and second slits are located at different locations.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first slit extends from the substantially semicircular cutout to the interior of the first sheet.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first slit and the second slit extend from the substantially semicircular cutout to the interior of the first sheet; and the first and second slits are located at different locations.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second sheet is substantially aligned with and covers substantially the same area as the first sheet.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second sheet covers about half of the area of the first sheet, and is substantially aligned with a portion of the first sheet.
 9. A method comprising wrapping an apparatus around an upper torso of a person; wherein the apparatus includes: a first sheet; a second sheet attached to the first sheet; a first attachment device fixed to a first portion of the first sheet; a second attachment device fixed to a second portion of the first sheet; wherein the first sheet has a substantially semicircular cutout; wherein the second sheet is comprised of a substantially waterproof material; and wherein the first attachment device and the second attachment device are fixed to the first sheet so that the first attachment device can be attached to the second attachment device to connect the first and second portions of the first sheet, so that the first sheet is wrapped around an upper torso area of an individual.
 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising attaching the first attachment device to the second attachment device and thereby connecting the first and second portions of the first sheet, so that the first sheet is wrapped around an upper torso area of an individual.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising washing hair on a head of the individual with the first sheet wrapped around the upper torso of the individual.
 12. The method of claim 10 further comprising coloring hair on a head of the individual with the first sheet wrapped around the upper torso of the individual.
 13. The method of claim 9 wherein the second attachment device is attached to the first sheet through the second sheet.
 14. The method of claim 9 wherein the first sheet is comprised of a periphery and an interior; and wherein there is a first slit in the first sheet which extends from the periphery of the first sheet towards the interior of the first sheet.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein there is a second slit in the first sheet which extends from the periphery of the first sheet towards the interior of the first sheet; the first and second slits are located at different locations.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the first slit extends from the substantially semicircular cutout to the interior of the first sheet.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the first slit and the second slit extend from the substantially semicircular cutout to the interior of the first sheet; and the first and second slits are located at different locations.
 18. The method of claim 9 wherein the second sheet is substantially aligned with and covers substantially the same area as the first sheet.
 19. The method of claim 9 wherein the second sheet covers about half of the area of the first sheet, and is substantially aligned with a portion of the first sheet.
 20. The method of claim 9 further comprising tucking the substantially semicircular cutout over a collar to prevent the collar from getting wet. 